University of Maryland Extension

Greenbrier

Greenbrier
Smilax rotundifolia

smilax (Greenbrier)

Life cycle: woody vine. This is a native vine.
Growth habit: can form impenetrable thickets, climbs by tendrils attached to the petiole; stems bright green with sharp prickles; leaves alternate, rounded to heart-shaped, shiny bright green with smooth margins and parallel veins
Reproduction: plants spread slowly by vegetative growth and by seeds; greenish flowers precede bluish black berries
Conditions that favor growth: commonly found along roadsides, open woods, and edges of moist swampy areas
Cultural control: manual removal of branches down to ground and keep cut to maintain growth

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